AVID "ANIMANIACS" FANS MAKE PILGRIMAGE TO WARNER BROS. STUDIO

(Burbank, CA--August 9, 1995) Twenty of the most avid fans of the hit animated television series "Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs," which begins airing on the Kids' WB! (The WB Television Network) beginning Saturday, September 9, have planned a pilgrimage to the Warner Bros. Studio via the information superhighway. The group, which includes a retired Air Traffic Controller from Madison, Wisconsin, a mother of two from Houston, Texas, a police dispatcher from Atlanta, Georgia, a computer engineer from Portland, Oregon, and a number of college students from across the country, embarked on their journey Saturday, August 5. They will arrive at the Warner Bros. Studio on Friday, August 11 where they will be treated to a day of "behind-the-scenes" fun at Warner Bros. Animation.

This group of ambitious "fan-amaniacs" literally linked together on their own via the information superhighway, now, more commonly known as the INTERNET. Over the course of approximately a year-and-a-half, they have communicated on-line, discussing various "Animaniacs" storylines, challenging each other with "Animaniacs" trivia and expressing their adulation for the wacky and zany characters -- Yakko, Wakko, and their sister -- Dot.

According to their records, these diehard fans have exchanged a total of 607 e-mail messages in planning this upcoming event. They will cumulatively travel a total of 34,784 miles, 17960 driving and 16824 flying.

It was Peter Hastings, one of the producers of "Animaniacs," who discovered the group when the trip coordinator, Brendan Dunn, a college student from the California Institute of Technology, e-mailed him asking if the studio would honor their request to meet the talented producers, artists, and voice actors of "Animaniacs." "Of course, we couldn't believe that a group of total strangers could meet on-line with their sole tie being that they are fans of our show," said Hastings.

Hastings went directly to Senior Producer, Tom Ruegger, to get his opinion about making the "fan-amaniacs" dream become a reality. "What a fantastic group of people, I thought," says Ruegger. "It seemed to me that since they are all so excited and enthusiastic about meeting us, and so well-versed about our show, we should take a meeting and hear what they have to say about it. After all...they are certainly dedicated fans!"

"The producers and I thought that if these folks took the time to plan this trip, take time off from their jobs and schools, and at their own expense, the least we could do is show them a good time," comments Jean MacCurdy, President, Warner Bros. Animation. "After all, that's certainly what Yakko, Wakko and their sister -- Dot would want."

So, on Friday, August 11, in what appears to be an unprecedented event, twenty of the most loyal watchers of the number one animated program on television will make their way to the Warner Bros. Studio. They will be treated to a "backstage" tour of the Warner Bros. Animation facility, they'll meet with the producers of the show as well as lunch with the voice actors -- Rob Paulsen (Yakko), Jess Harnell (Wakko), and Tress MacNeille (Dot) -- and even have the opportunity to watch a 30-piece orchestra score an upcoming episode of the series. (They may even get to sing the original lyrics they wrote about their cross-country trek, to the tune of the "Animaniacs" theme song, with orchestral accompaniment.)

"I thought this idea was too cool to pass up, so I decided to make it work," says Dunn, "Animaniacs" trip coordinator. "It's been tough trying to make everyone's schedules match up but it's been a lot of fun too! And, I can't wait to finally meet all of my 'Animaniacs' friends in person."

Submitted by Cathy Cruse, Director, Publicity, WB Television Distribution. Used by permission.